Millbury speculates on slots casino site, impact

MILLBURY — The morning after residents learned about Rush Street Gaming's proposal to develop a $200 million slots parlor in Millbury, conversation around town was filled with speculation about where the casino would be located and what it would mean to the town.

Steven Lovelette, Rush Gaming's representative, told selectmen Tuesday night that the Chicago-based developer, filing as Mass Gaming & Entertainment, would finalize its location within the next few days and would present a conceptual overview to the Planning Board Monday night.

Most residents asked about the proposal believed the casino would be located along Route 146, which has a commercial overlay district running almost continuously, except between roughly Sycamore Street and West Main Street, from the Sutton town line north to the Mass Pike interchange and the Worcester border.

Commercial properties mentioned include Millbury Plaza, a former strip mall on the southbound side of 146, or the nearby former site of Honey Dew Donuts.

Real estate agent Joyce B. O'Connor said that a 26-acre parcel might be available in that area, although she had no information about where the casino developers were looking.

Another commercial property, 12.79 acres on North Main Street, bordering Route 146 north just north of Route 122A, is listed for sale online for $3.5 million, although Ms. O'Connor said the property has a lot of ledge and would be difficult to develop for a casino.

At Sports Clip barbershop on Elm Street, barber Matthew Corey said customers were surprised they were just learning about the slots parlor.

"I have no problem with something like that coming into town," he said, citing the prospect of revenue for the town and schools as an appealing factor. "If it's going to be up on 146 ... the things that go up on 146 don't really affect what goes on in Millbury (center)."

He said that the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley didn't add to crime and traffic downtown when it opened in 2004 and he didn't expect a slots parlor to be different.

"You can't fight progression. It happens," Mr. Corey said.

At Town Hall, Robert Roy said he'd like to see some entertainers brought in along with slots.

"I'd have a very open mind," Mr. Roy said. "It depends on where it is and how it's run."

At Central Diner, on the corner of Main and Elm streets, Chris, who did not want his last name used, took a moment away from making omelettes on the grill to say that the casino was a hot topic with the earlier breakfast crowd.

"They're not in favor of it, by any means," he said.

A customer at the counter, who only gave his name as Michael, said he didn't buy the developer's claim that the casino would provide more than 400 permanent jobs with average salaries of $50,000.

He said: "They're saying something that they (townspeople) want to hear. There's this big carrot sticking over their head, but they (town officials) need to think to get the big picture."

Tracy Flematti, who was walking outside the diner, said, "It's too small of a town for that (a slots casino). I'd like to see it in other places. I'm not crazy about it."

Another woman walking by, who didn't want to give her name, said, "I don't like it. I don't know what kind of people it will bring in."

Town Planner Laurie A. Connors said the first look at details will be presented Monday night, but the informal presentation isn't on the agenda until 9:15 p.m.

"I have not seen anything," she said. "I don't know whether there will be a hotel, a restaurant, how many slots there will be."

The developer's earliest date for a public hearing on a special permit would be Aug. 12, Ms. Connors said. The applicant would have to file a formal proposal within the next two weeks to meet the deadlines for notice of a hearing.

If the developer receives a special permit, it would have to submit a site plan application and stormwater application for the next level of review.

"So there are some real nitty-gritty engineering details they'll have to provide," she said. "It definitely is not a done deal at this point. They may not be able to get the special permit."

Town Manager Robert J. Spain Jr. said that the process to negotiate a host community agreement, which he hopes to accomplish by July 26, is on a separate but parallel track with the Planning Board approval process.

Contact Susan Spencer at susan.spencer@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanSpencerTG.